A Celebration of Fright Flicks Old and New, Mainstream and Obscure (with the occasional civilian film tossed in as well)

Thursday, April 27, 2017

BIFFFF 2017 Wrap-up!

Well, BIFFF 2017 has come and gone, and a glorious experience it was.

This marked my third visit to Brussels for the fest, as well as my first time serving on the jury of an international film festival. I was honored to lead the 7th Orbit Jury, filled out by my illustrious compatriots, actress Bénédicte Philippon, radio personality Lucile Poulain, and writer/director Xavier Seron.

There were fewer jaw-dropping celebrity encounters compared to my visits in 2012 (Barbara Steele, Terry Gilliam, William Friedkin) and 2013 (Dario Argento, John Hough), but I was still happy to have rubbed shoulders with directors Fabrice du Welz (Calvaire, Vinyan) and Stanley Tong (Supercop, Rumble in the Bronx), and the lovely Spanish actress Macarena Gomez (Dagon, Witching and Bitching). Due to my late arrival, I just missed meeting 2017’s inductees into the Order of the Raven (the BIFFF’s Hall of Fame), Chan-wook Park (Oldboy, Stoker) and Alejandro Amenabar (The Others, Open Your Eyes).

Edith Scob, the star of the original 1960 shocker Eyes without a Face, was also supposed to be on hand but had to bow out at the last minute due to illness.

As with my previous visits, I spent my downtime camped out in the abode of Brussels blood brother and Cult Reviews mastermind Gert Verbeeck, although our separate trajectories – he was handling a healthy portion of the subtitling programming throughout the fest while I was attending to my jury duties and trying to catch as many other features as possible – did not allow us to spend as much time sitting side by side amidst the raucous BIFFF crowds. Still, it was nice to know that we were both playing important roles in the festival this time around.

Announcing Swiss Army Man as the winner of the 7th Orbit, with Saving Sally receiving a Special Mention

In addition to the films (which we’ll be getting to in a second, since I can hear you all grumbling in the background), the real highlight was reuniting with scores of Belgian film fans that I have befriended over the past five years. Jonathan Lenaerts and Youssef Seniora, who keep the press and special events running smoothly. Roxane de Quirini and Elli Mastorou, who served on the BIFFF 2012 press team. Editor of When Animals Attack (to which I contributed an essay on The Food of the Gods), Vanessa Morgan. Director of Forgotten Scares (documenting Flemish horror), Steve De Roover. Fellow journalist pals Claire Annovazzi, Thibault van der Werve, Jean-Philippe Thiriart, Kamal Messaoudi, Jérôme Di Egidio, Pat A. Cronenberg, and Dorien Bijdeweg. My favorite man of mystery, Eddy Benteyn. New friends Vanity Celis, Jasna Kohoutova, and Boumédiène Yahia-Berrouiguet. And, of course, the face of the BIFFF, everyone’s favorite Master of Ceremonies, Stéphane Everaert.

What an honor it is to call these people my friends, and how glad I am that a simple love for fantastic cinema somehow brought us all together.

Below are all 41 films (with posters and trailer links) from 21 different countries viewed by these wondering and wandering eyes over nine magical days. In the days to come, I will also post individual reviews of the horror offerings to be dutifully linked back to this wrap-up page as they come into being. In other words, this will ultimately be your one-stop shopping for all things BIFFF 2017, but it might take a while before everything is ship-shape. So, feel free to keep checking in here, or simply stay tuned as each of the individual films are given their due.

Without any further adieu:

Dragon (2016) d. Dzendubaev, Indar (Russia)

Deeply romantic fantasy flick about a shapeshifting dragon and the woman who loves him. Has its moments.

"Documentary" about a Belgian rock band that feels at times like a party that you can't quite leave because your friends really, really, really want to stay. It ends up being a memorable night, but it takes a while getting there. Surprising and impressive final act.

Another great high concept: Man is trapped in his car when an underpass collapses and the race against time is on. Bounces back and forth between the rescue effort above and the victim below with perfect tempo.

Hopefully you haven't worn out your scrolling finger yet - there's more to come! In the meantime, here's a clip of the 7th Orbit Jury singing a mercifully brief snippet of Britney Spears' "Baby, One More Time."

About Me

Well, during the day I move among you as mild-mannered Aaron Christensen, Chicago actor. But at night, when the popcorn pops full, I transform into my alternate personality Dr. AC, hopeless horror movie nerd-cum-Ambassador of Horror.
However, despite my inclination to discuss monsters that pervade, aliens that invade, creatures of the night, vampires that bite...I'm actually the nicest guy you'll ever meet.